In the Summer, your skin gets most damaged by harsh UV rays, inner dryness due to moisturizing less, sudden temperature changes from humidity to an A/C room, etc. so it's important that you pay more attention to your skin during this time of the year. In the first of this video, I shared some of my favorite facial massages (acupuncture a.k.a. acupressure massages) to repair and get clear skin! They are great to do both morning and night when your skin feels not-so-great, or when you want to look awake and refreshed in a matter of minutes.

Then, the second part shows you how to make my original DIY Healthy Skin Strawberry Smoothie! I talked about ALL the details regarding the health and beauty benefits in the video, but the reason why I began taking in Greek yogurt into my daily diet is because doctors highly recommended it. Like I've mentioned in past videos, skin care and body care isn't just about applying products from the outside- whether it's inexpensive or high-end. You have to have a healthy diet because that's what shows up on your skin. We all (including me of course!) have those bleh skin days. I drink this smoothie almost every morning after a glass of water, and it greatly helps in making my skin feel a lot bouncier and glowy from within. In addition, this smoothie includes a TON of protein as well which actually helps to make you feel full and satisfied, so it'll be perfect for those of you who cannot eat as much for breakfast. I hope that you find/found this video helpful, and definitely try out the recipe! Also, don't forget to check out my new Kawaii Bento right below that aired on TV a few days ago! :) xoxo

Hi everyone! Here is my FCI television director series, "Kawaii Bento" episode for this month! This time, I'm going to be making California Rolls, one of the most popular types of sushi rolls in America. It's very common to order sushi at restaurants, but not many people make their own at home. As long as you have the ingredients/tools, sushi rolls are actually very simple and easy to make! Once you memorize the steps, you can create all kinds of rolls easily just by changing what you put inside. It's a must watch if you love sushi and perfect for bentos, parties, and events since it's very presentable and delicious! If you missed the TV airing, you can watch the full video by clicking HERE or the photo above! :)

If you replace the imitation crab stick and mayonnaise with eel and eel sauce, it will become an Eel Roll. If you place all kinds of sashimi on top of the California Roll, it will become a Rainbow Roll! Finally, if you place thin avocado slices on top of the Eel Roll, you can make a Dragon Roll!! It's super easy and a lot of fun, so definitely try making your own original roll by using your favorite sashimi! Happy Cooking!! :)

Sigma is apparently having a 20% OFF sale with the coupon code SBAP20 from July 22-29, so if you're interested in their brushes I recommend checking them out while on the huge discount!

GIVEAWAY RULES & PRIZES!1. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & "Like" the video2. Follow me on Twitter(winner will be announced ONLY on Twitter so please follow to apply!)3. Retweet my tweet of the video with #melodeemoritagiveaway4. Comment on the video telling me which country you are from + if you have a video request!

Fuwa Fuwa Awa NetAs it says on the packaging of the product, this is a super long-seller item! "Awa" means "foam bubbles" in Japanese, and like I mentioned in the video, it's extremely important that you wash your face with foam bubbles. For some reason I can't direct link it, but if you type "facial foaming net", it will come up as the first search result! (Thank you very much to Amy who commented below telling me that this is available on Amazon for all my other viewers! ^^) You can also find these at Japanese supermarkets in the states.

MY AMERICAN & JAPANESE DRUGSTORE FAVES/ALTERNATIVES

Liquid/Cream/Powder FoundationsUS - REVLON 24hrs Colorstay Makeup: One of the best out there! Very long lasting and a wide selection of shades. Covers redness and evens out skintone and also works well with my brushes I used in the video.JAPAN - Point Magic Pro Pressed Powder: I've introduced this in a video before, but it truly lives up to its name! Your pores will disappear if you lightly buff the product into the skin. However, I don't recommend using the powder puff that comes with it as it applies pretty thickly causing cakiness. Try using a dense brush instead! It's very inexpensive and great for travel.

ConcealerUS - Maybelline Instant Age Rewind: Great coverage. Only downside for me is that the lightest shade is way too dark so I had to mix it with something else...JAPAN - Canmake Cover & Stretch Concealer UV: Great finish. Best of all, waterproof! It's a bit drying though so only use a tiny amount to prevent flaky looking skin especially in the winter time.

Makeup Setting SprayUS- Urban Decay All Nighter: I have yet to find a good US drugstore makeup setting spray (don't really see them in stores ><), so just this one is from Sephora. If you're interested you can try the sample size first and see if it'll work for your skin! The Urban Decay All Nighter or Skindinavia are probably the best ones. Otherwise, I recommend using primers and oil-free makeup in the summer! If you go to Japan, check out their setting sprays because they have a wide selection of them that's very inexpensive and actually works. :D

Undereye CareJAPAN - Hurry Harry Collagen Serum Bar: This one was less than $10. It's in a lipstick kind of container, and you twist the bottom part for the product to come out. It's quick and easy to use just like the eye roll essence, but it's not a liquid formula. It's a glide-on product that's very smooth and nourishes + treats the undereye area! It's more suitable for the cooler months since it's slightly thicker.

Lip CareUS - Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter: A highly raved product that lives up to its hype. I just tend to reach for the NIVEA lip balm or new lip butter more because I don't like having a bunch of different scents on my face. (The Rimmel True Match Perfection foundation has a light watermelon candy-like scent. However, it doesn't bother me at all and goes away after a few minutes.)

Another huge favorite of mine that I highly recommend is the Sugar Lip Streatment with SPF15 available at Sephora. I have the small travel size and it seriously lasts forever! I love the scent, texture, finish, everything.<3

ADDITIONAL INFO & SECRET TIPS

1. ROLL the foam bubbles on your face very gently. If you create the bubbles correctly, you'll be able to make a large amount of dense foam by using only a dime sized amount of your cleanser. Your fingers should barely touch the surface of the skin when washing. Take your time rolling the cleanser (for at least a minute). After rinsing well, splash on cold water to tighten the pores for about 30 seconds. Continue this, and your skin will literally change in 2 weeks!See my: Japanese Skincare Routine videofor more detailed tips & a full demo!

2. Once you've tightened the pores and towel-dried your face, apply your eye cream, moisturizer, and serum (plus sunscreen in the morning) within 10 seconds.I highly recommend applying as soon as possible so the products will seep into the skin and work well!

3. Do NOT try to cover everything up with foundation. That's what concealers are for. The more you pile on, the more it's going to look like a mask. Try using a very thin layer only, and use concealers for redness and dark spots. Using brushes will allow you to spread the foundation out evenly and thoroughly. It's also the best way to save product because fingers can sometimes smear the makeup, while sponges can eat up the foundation.

I hope the video and this blog post was informative and helpful to you! Good luck on the giveaway, and if you have any questions feel free to comment below on this post!<3

Trendylicious: New York's Hottest Sweets: "Cronuts"!ニューヨークで大人気新スイーツ、「クロナッツ」Have you ever heard of "Cronuts"? Well, it is the hottest, most popular sweets in New York City right now that just came out in May! New Yorkers line up from 6AM for this! One person can only buy up to two cronuts, but it sells out for the day in one hour. There's even a black market where they sell one cronut for $100! Crazy, right?! What are the secrets to the cronuts' immense popularity? Check out this trending New York sweets now!<3

Since my last exercise video, many of you requested more including one to shape up for the summer, so this time I shared with you routines I learned during my ballet school years and pilates classes. These are simplified versions that I came up for you all so it'll be more like a fun game to do! Here are some of my tips to keep in mind:

1. BREATHE. I know it's hard to think of inhaling and exhaling duringt the exercises, but if you don't breathe, you're not going to get enough oxygen to the muscles. For the second exercise for example, make sure you breathe out slowly as you lower the legs towards the ground. Go as far down as possible without touching the tissue box, and you will feel the muscles burn like crazyyy!

2. KEEP IN MIND OF THE AREA YOU'RE WORKING ON. Since this routine is mainly to tone the stomach area, make sure you are keeping in mind and pulling to stomach up and in at all times. If you have a slouched back with no energy in your upper body, these aren't going to do anything for you. Always keep a good posture with your chin up, keep breathing, and focus on the area you want to shape up!

3. WORK TO YOUR LIMIT. Some exercises are a bit more challenging than others, but it's important that you always push a *little* bit further than the point where you are about to give up. That's what's going to REALLY make the difference! But make sure you don't do anything strenuous or harming to your body.

4. CONTINUE THE ROUTINE. Don't give up on this routine after 3 days... for a toned a healthy body, you have to work for it! I recommend doing this routine with me every day in the morning or at night before you jump in the shower. The exercise routine starts at 2:40 in the video, so favorite the YouTube link to do these super quick and easy exercises! The more you get used to doing it every day, the faster your body will change.

5. HAVE FUN! The reason why I made this video to pumping music is because I want you guys to actually enjoy doing the exercises with me. Share the video to your friends so you can do it all together, too! :)

Have you ever bought jeans that you thought was your size but it ended up being too baggy or tight? Jeans vary in size from brand to brand, so it can be a pain to find a perfect pair. So this Spring, the latest high-tech machine called "Me-Ality" was created. It finds you the perfect pair of jeans WITHOUT trying anything on! You don't have to go through the hassle of being in ridiculously long lines or try on numerous pairs of jeans to find your match. It's free with no reservations needed, so I went to try it out! Click HEREor the photo above to watch the video!

As you will see in the video, Me-Ality selects jeans that are in stock at that moment, so if you are unable to find any jeans in your size, you can log-in with your free Me-Ality account and info given to shop in your correct size online. I hope this was fun to watch, and definitely try it out if you find one near you! These machines are definitely going to become more popular, so catch on the trend now. ;) There will be a lot more coming out in the near future!<3

こうゆう機械はこれからどんどん増えていくそうです皆さんもどこかでこの機械を見つけたら是非トライしてみてくださいね

Also, check out the Japanese Skincare Episode that aired yesterday! Facial cleansing is THE most important step in skincare, so check out the tips from the video and start taking them in today to achieve beautiful, glowing skin! There's a special giveaway as well ;)

On May 12th, the 7th annual JAPAN DAY took place in Central Park in New York City!!This event brings together people of all ages and nationalities to enjoy Japanese culture including omatsuri-like games, activities, food, music, and live performances. I attended the event with FCI reporter & musician, Alex (http://alexyork.com), where we each experienced separate activities + interviewed the performers, participants, and the people who have made such a wonderful event like this possible. As a Japanese American myself, it is truly amazing to see such an incredible number of people come together to celebrate Japanese culture in the states, and I was thrilled to be a part of it as well. Also, thank you to those who noticed & came up to me! It was wonderful speaking with you all in person.<3 Please click the photo below to watch the full video, and enjoy! :)

I also uploaded a NEW video, "All About Me! / FAQ" on my YouTube Channel!I answered the most commonly asked questions of all genres by my viewers, so please come check it out if you haven't already seen it. :) It's entirely in English, but I also added full Japanese subtitles. Please enjoy until the end!<3